Well, things seem to be in constant motion. They changed my tickets already. I now leave from up north 15 minutes later, and have a 45 minute layover in Charlotte NC now. The answer to several of your’s question should be answered in this post. Look Carefully, it’s there!
All times are local to each city
Orlando, FL (MCO) to Minneapolis/St Paul, MN (MSP)
Total Travel Time: 3hrs 23min
Please check in at AirTran Airways ticket counter.
I went to up to Lakeland Florida this weekend. I met most of Katie’s Family. Lets see, Dad Mike, Mom Ellen, I stayed with Brother Todd and wife Sarah, brother Andy and Wife Cara with child Arin stoped to visit along with Brother Matt, Brother Pat and best friend Amy also stopped in. I didn’t get to meet brother Mike and Sister Angela. Fwew. I think I got all of them. Oh, wait, Kitty Buster and dogs Bear and Shelby. I think I got them all. One, two three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Oh oh, who did I miss? Oh, last but not least, Katie nine! YAY, I passed the test! Just don’t ask me to put them in order of age!
We didn’t really do all that much, met family, talked to family, ate with family. I am not used to that much family! We went to 2 different chinese buffets, Pizza, Dennys for breakfast thursday night, icecream, Wendys, and where else…
We played a cutthroat game of Cranium. That was a lot of fun! Andy and ‘Dad’ won. Oh, I was shown some pretty neat magic tricks. I am going to have to go out and get some new cards to practice with.
I got a tour Lakeland. Katie drove me around and showed me town. Oh, I also got a free 23 minute tour of Bartow. Katie had said ‘keep left on 60’, business 60 takes a left turn into downtown Bartow. Great fun! Not Really, driving around after dark somewhere you have never been before. Not my idea of a good time. Well, actually, I thought it was kinda funny. I get to tease Katie about her directions. Hopefully she doesn’t get the idea to tease me about my driving.
Katie came down this weekend. The Chris, Chris, Katie and I went out to dinner at a steak house in Coral Springs. Sister Chris took a photo of Katie and I with the camera on my phone. You would think they would have figured out how to make the cameras better on these phones by now.
I went on a date this Saturday. Yes, for real. I have pictures to prove it! I started talking to Katie last weekend, well, actually, she started to talk to me first. We chatted online for a little bit. Then we started to talk on the phone. A lot. A WHOLE lot. I think we spent the whole week on the phone. I am really not looking forward to this next phone bill – but more about that later…
So, anyway, we decided to meet. Not quite as simple as it sounds. She lives in Lakeland Florida. That is between Tampa and Orlando (or, for you who are too lazy to look at a map, 4 hours away). We decided to meet in the middle. What better place then scenic Vero Beach. We met at the Outlet Mall there right off the interstate. I was late. Can you imagine that? Me late? Late for a first date, what a great first impression, right? So, they have a Borders Outlet there. Bookstore! What better way to get to know somebody then to look at books. The Borders Outlet is kinda sparse on selection, so we didn’t stick around very long. We wandered over to the Subway and TCBY to get something to eat. I think we where both so nervious we weren’t really hungry.
So. After a lot of nervious giggles and glances (and that was just me), we decide to head to the beach. About a quarter of the way there Katie points and says “Books a Million”. Huh? It’s a book store, a REAL bookstore. So, I turn the car around and we go in. Airconditioning! LOTS of books! Now we start going through the books and pointing out what we have read to each other, and what is good and what isn’t so good. Can you believe it? She likes the same kind of books as me! I think the bookstore really broke the ice. We got some water and sat in some cooshy chairs and talked like we where old friends.
We then went the rest of the way to the beach. It was really nice. I took a few neat photos. Many of them where while I was out, standing on a pipe leading into the ocean. Can you see where this is going? Yep. I fell off. SPLASH, into the ocean I go. How embarissing! I didn’t get the camera wet, my phone got splashed though. So, now I am soaking wet! And worse yet, I tear my favorite jeans – you know, the ones with the ink stain. We wandered over to one of the boardwalks so I can dry off in the sun and we didn’t have to listen to me go squish squish squish at every step. We sat down and chatted and watched the people walk by. I gave her a back massage, I think she liked it. She said she hadn’t gotten one in a long time.
We get hungry – funny how that happens when your not nervious anymore. We wander back towards the car and stop at this resturuant right on the beach. Katie ordered a philly cheesesteak, I spied a rhuben on the menu. We sit and eat and talk and have a grand o’l time. Oh, the rhuben was good, I can go back there again.
After dinner we go back to her truck so she can get clothes. I don’t think I will ever understand girls. She wore long pants during the day, and changed into shorts for the evening. Anybody have any insight to that one? Oh, she drinks Mt. Dew too! I got her one when she was changing.
So, we end up back at the beach and take a walk along the beach. I suggest we head north, as south hadn’t been so good to me. I was finally mostly dried off by now. We wandered along, stopped and sat down on some steps. We talked and whatnot for the longest time. Counted the stars, listened to the people walk by on the beach. She gave me a backrub. 10 o’clock came up WAY to soon! And poor Katie had to work at 7:45 the next morning!
She is still talking to me! I must have done something right between showing up late and falling into the ocean. Will the wonders never cease!
